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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

O.-GASSETT & I. FISHER. Railway Signal Apparatus. No. 233,612. PatentedOct. 26, 1880..

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Railway Signal Apparatus. No. 233.612. Patented Oct. 26, I880.

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u. PETERS, 'PNOYO-LITMOGRAPHER, WASHINGTOMD. C4

OSCAR GASSETT AND ISRAEL FISHER, OF BOSTON, MASS, ASSIGNORS TO THE UNIONELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPANY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,612, dated October26, 1880. Application filed March 20, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, OSCAR GASSETT and ISRAELFISHER, both of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvementin Railway Signal Apparatus, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification.

Our invention relates to an automatic signal apparatus for railways, andis embodied in a machine controlled by an electro-magnet, and adapted toshow a signal or bannerin one position while a train is on a section oftrack to be protected by the said signal, and to place the said signalin another position when the said section of track is free to be enteredupon by a train.

The machine is intended to be controlled by an electro-magnet placed inan electric circuit with the rails of the track, the said magnet beingdemagnetized by shunting or short-circuiting it by the wheels and axlesof a train, or otherwise, the battery-circuit remaining constant, exceptwhen accidentally broken, as by the breaking of a rail, or washing outof the track, or rupture of a wire, or otherwise.

The present invention is based on a machine invented by Oscar Gassett,on which an application for patent filed August 14, 1879, is nowpending, in which a signal-machine actuated by a weight is controlled bya detent operated by the armature of an electro-magnet in such mannerthat the mechanism is stopped with the signal in one position when thesaid armature is attracted to its magnet,

and in the other position when the said armature is released by thedemagnetization of its magnet. In both that machine and the present thesignal-banner is shown as turning on an axis in its plane, andindicating one condition of the block-section when the plane of the saidsignal is parallel with, and the other condition when perpendicular to,the line of railway, and both sides being alike, a quarterrevolution issufficient to change the signal, the edge of the signal-banner beingpresented to the engineer to indicate one condition of the sectionas,for example, danger, and the face thereof to indicate the oppositecondition, or safety.

The present invention consists, first, in a novel detent device, inwhich a vibrating detent-lever has a shoulder near its pivotal pointwhich receives the shock and pressure of the revolving signal mechanism,the said pressure acting on one side of the said pivotal point to tendto vibrate the detent-lever in one direction when the signal is in oneposition, and on the other side to vibrate the said lever in the otherdirection when in the other position. The detentlever is itself stoppedfrom vibrating in one direction by engaging a stop on an armature-leverwhen the armature is attracted and held up to the poles of itselectromagnet, and is stopped from vibrating in the other direction whenthe electro-magnet is demagnetized and the armature released. Thisconstruction removes all shock from the armature-lever and renders thepressure thereon very light, so thata weak current is sufficient tocontrol it and the signal.

The invention also consists in the construction of the stop-points onthe armature-lever, whereby the said detent-lever is always caused tostop or come to rest on the proper face of the stop, thereby alwaysinsuring the correct position of the signal when the controllingarmaturecomes to rest; also, in a stop device controlled by the actuating power,herein shown as a spring, to stop and hold the sig- 8o nal in positionto indicate danger before the said actuating power is wholly exhaustedor run down; also, in an adjustable detacher for the armature-lever topress on the said lever when the armature is close to or in contact withthe-poles of the electro-magnet, to overcome any residual magnetism whenthe magnet is demagnetized and insure that the armature will fall away.

Figure l is an end elevation of a signal-machine embodying our inventionFig. 2, a plan thereof in one of its normal positionsthat is, indicatingsafety Fig. 3, a plan, partly in section, of a portion thereof in theother position to indicate danger, Fig. 4, a side view of thedetent-lever detached; Figs. 5 and 6, details, showing the engagement ofthe detent-lever with the armature-lever stops, being sections on thelines as :r and g y of Figs. 2 and 3, re-

spectively, looking toward the armature-lever; 1 oo Figs. 7 and 8,details to be referred to illustrating the operation under certaincircumstances.

The actuating-power is shown as a spring, a, attached at its outer endto a stud, a, on the frame, and at its inner end to a windingspindle,1), adapted to be wound by the key I), from which the power is applied,in the usual way, by a ratchet, b and pawl 0, to the large driving-gearc, from which the power is transmitted by the speed-increasing train 0 cc to the signal-shaft (1, provided with a socket, d", to receive thesignal-banner, and having a tendency to rotate in the direction of thearrow, Fig. 2.

The signal-shaft is provided with four arms, 6 e e e, at right angles toone another, shown as projecting from the socket d, and provided withdetent-studs ffff, the ones ff being farther from the axis of the shaft01 than the These detentstuds, flattened on their hearing side, as shownin Fig. 3, are adapted to strike on and beheld by the shoulder 9 of thedetent-lever g, pivoted at 2 on the frame-plate, the studs marked ffbeing placed to strike the said shoulder g on one side, and those markedff on theother side, of its pivot 2. The studs f tend to vibrate thelever g toward the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and the onesf tend to vibrate it as shown in Fig. 3, and in either case if it ispermitted so to vibrate, the studs f or f will escape over the edge ofthe shoulder g, asindicatedin Fig. 3, just before the lever g reachesone of the stop-pins 3 or 4.

The detent-lever g is prevented from vibratin g to release the stud fand arm eby the stop 71. on the armature-lever h, pivoted at 5, andcontrolled by the electro-magnet i, the said stop h being in position toengage the lever g, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 7, when the armature isattracted, while the said lever g is prevented from vibrating to releasethe stud j by the stop h on the said armature-lever h, when theelectro-maguet is demagnetized and its armature permitted to fall away,being then overbalanced by the long arm of the lever 71. on the left ofthe pivot 5 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The movement of the lever h is limited in one direction by theadjustable pointy, and in the other by the fixed stop j, shown as aninsulated bracket overhanging the end of the said lever h.

The magnet i is adjusted in proper position by the screw 1" and nut 6and is retained in this position by the set-screw i It will be observed,referring to Figs. 5 and 6, that when the detent-lever g is properlyengaged on the perpendicular front or stoppingface of either of itsstops h or 7L2 the other one of the said stops is in position to allowthe said lever to vibrate freely by it.

In Fig. 8 the armature-lever is in the same position as in Fig. 6, andconsequently the lever g should be in the same condition-that is, freeto vibrate in the direction of the arrow past the stop It to release oneof the signalarms a. If, however, the lever g should be held by the rearside of the stop 7L2, it will be seen that the said stop would then actto prevent movement in the direction of the arrow, and thus cause one ofthe arms 6 to be retained and a false signal given.

When, in the operation of the machine, as hereinafter described, thelever g is caught behind the stop W, as shown in Fig. 8, and with thestud f of a signal-arm,e, stopped on the shoulder g, tending to move thelever g in the direction of the arrow, the inclined surface 6 of the endof the lever will bear against the inclined rear surface, 7, of the stop7?, and the latter will yield to the pressure, thus raising thearmature-lever h and allowing the lever g to pass in the direction ofthe arrow, after which the lever h will drop again, the lever g vibrateto allow the arm 0 to escape, and then, when the shoulder g is struck bythe stud f stop against the front face of the stop 7L and hold the arm 0as in Fig. 6, thus giving the correct signal.

Fig. 7 illustrates the operation when the detent-lever g is caughtbehind the stop h. In this case, if the stop h were rigidly attached tothe lever h, the armature would have to be pulled away from its magnetto let the-lever g pass; but this is obviated by pivoting the stop h at8, so that it may drop down and let the said lever g pass, after whichit is immediately raised by the spring 9, Fig. 5, against the pin 10, toproperly stop the detent-lever g on its front face.

The detacher for the armature is shown as a strong spring, 70, attachedto a post, 70, on the frame, and adjustable by a screw, 1, and check-nutl, to bring its outer end. 11, which overhangs the armature-lever h,into proper position to'bear upon said armaturelever when the armatureis at the end of its movement toward the poles of its magnet, in orderto insure that the said armature shall fall away when the magnet isdemagnetized.

The circuit-wires for the electro-magnet 'i are to be attached to theinsulated bindingscrews 20 21, and the wires of another circuit to becontrolled by the signal to operate any desired instrument. Usually, asecondary signal-machine similar to the one in hand may be attached tothe binding-screws 22 23, the said circuit then terminating in theflexible springs m n on an insulating-block, 0, the said springs whenleft to themselves, as in Fig. 3, being separated and the circuit open.

One pair of opposite signal-arms (herein shown as the ones marked 6) isprovided with pins 19, adapted to bear on an insulating-plate, n, on thespring n, and press the said spring provided with a contact-stud, nagainst the spring m to close the circuit. WVhen the pins 19 are on thearms 0 this circuitis closed,while the electro'magnet i is charged andbroken when the said magnet is demagnetized; but by placing the pins onthe wings e ,the opposite condition would be the result.

The stopping device for the machine con sists of a hooked arm, r,attached to a rockshaft, 8, extended down between the frameplates, andprovided near the bottom with an arm, t, which is pressed by a lightspring against the outer leaf of the main actuatingspring a, which, asit opens out in operating the machine, swings the arm t, andconsequently the hooked arm 1, in the direction of the arrow, Fig.2,'until, before the spring is so weak as to cease actuating themachine, the hooked end is in position to catch one of the pins to onthe arms 6 and hold the said arms, and consequently the machine andsignal, when the said arms 0 are in the position occupied by the arms 0in Fig. 2, in which position the signal indicates danger.

Another secondary circuit is closed when the armature is attractedbetween the wires 25 26, the former wire connected with the metal frame,and consequently with the armaturelever, and the latter wire, 26,connected with the insulated armature-lever stop j, the armature-leverbeing provided with a contactstud, 27, Figs. 5 and 6, to make contactwith the said stop j.

The operation of the'machine is as follows: The signal consists of aplane disk alike on both sidesf0r example, red to indicate danger-and isso placed that one of the opposite faces of the disk will be presentedto the engineer, and consequently the same or danger signal be given, ifeither of the arms 6, which may be called the danger-arms, is stopped bythe detent device, and one of the opposite edges of the disk will bepresented to indicate safety if either of the arms 0, or safety-arms, isstopped. When the magneti is vitalized, the armature is attracted, andthe machine comes to rest with the end of the detent-lever g restingagainst the stop h, and one of the detent-studs fof one of thesafety-arms 6 bearing on the shoulder g. In this position thecircuitcloser m a is closed by the pin 10. If the magnet isdemagnetized, the stop It drops from the range of the end of thedetent-lever g, which swings against the stop-pin 3, allowing the arm 0to escape, after which the stud f of the next or danger-arm strikes theshoulder g and swings it back from the stop-pin 3 until its end strikesthe stop 7L2 and is detained, thereby allowing the said arm 6 to escape,so that the signal continues in this position until the magnet t isagain charged, when the arm 6 escapes and an arm, 6, is detained.

When the stud'f of one of the danger-arms is detained, thecircuit-closer m n is open, as shown in Fig. 3, so that if anelectro-magnet of another precisely similar machine to the one shown isin a circuit controlled by the said circuit-closer it will giveprecisely the same indications, as would, also, one in circuit with thewires 25 26.

Usually the signal is operated by a single change in the condition ofthe electro-magnet i-as from magnetized to demagnetized, or viceversa-and a consequent single movement of the armature to one or theother of its stops;

but sometimes, as by the throwing of a switch, two changes are made inrapid succession, bringing the magnet back to its original condition,the armature-lever passing first from one stop to the other, and thenback to the first stop. In this case the detent-lever will be releasedand the appropriate signal-arm escape on the first change of the magnet;but it is possible that the second change may take place and thearmature lever return to its original position before the nextsignal-arm has reached the shoulder g, in which case the end of thedetent-lever 9 will be caught behind the stop that has just released it,the said stop in the first movement of the arm aturelever havingreleased the detent-lever, which would then, in the usual course ofoperation, come to rest against the other stop placed in line therewithby the first movement of the armature-lever; but before this can happenthe second movement brings the first-mentioned stopbackintothelineofmovementofthe detent'lever g, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, whenthe said stop will be moved aside to let the said detent-lever pass, ashereinbefore described, and the second arm will escape and the signalfinally come to rest in its original position, as it should, since thecircuit and track are now in their original condition.

- It will be observed that if the stops It 7L2 were omitted and themachine left to run down, the detent-lever 9 would act as an escapement,checking and almost stopping the movement of the arms 0 6, so that theycan never strike the shoulder g with a momentum greater than thatderived from a quarter-revolution of the shaft d.

The shock of stopping the machine is received by the shoulderg, which isa solid piece of metal with the lever g, and its sustainingpivot 2 isfirmly bedded in the frame-plate, while the said lever g strikes andbears on the stops of the armature-lever very lightly, having no effecton its pivot 5 to make it loose, and its friction on the said stops doesnot appreciably resist the movement of the said lever.

It is obvious that the stopping device)" could readily be adapted to beoperated in a machine actuated by a weight, the rod 2'; or itsequivalent being then engaged, for example, by a knot or projection onthe cord or chain by which the weight is suspended.

If desired to have the signal indicate safety when the magnet isdemagnetized, it is only necessary to turn the signal a quarter of arevolution in its socket.

We claim- 1. In a railway signal apparatus, a visual signal, amechanical motor to place it, and detent-studs to stop it in differentpositions, combined with a detent-lever provided with a shoulder toengage and hold the said studs, and adapted to be vibrated in onedirection under the pressure of one of the said studs engaged to holdthe signal in one position, as indicating safety, and to be vibrated inthe .other direction under the stress of a stud, holdarmature-levertherefor provided with a stop having a front face to engage and hold thesaid detent-lever when in proper position, and inclined on its rearsurface, to enable the detent-lever to move it aside and pass it whenengaging it on its rear side, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

3. A mechanieally-operated signal apparatus and detent-lever to engageand stop it in different positions, combined with an armature-lever andan electro-magnet to control it, and a pivoted stop thereon to engagethe said detent-lever when in proper position and prevent it from movingin one direction, but adapted to be turned aside on its pivot, to allowthe said detent-lever to pass by it in the other direction,substantially as described.

4. An electro-niagnet and its armature and lever therefor, adapted byits weight to draw the armature away from the said magnet whendemagnetized, combined with the adjustable detaching-spring adapted tobe adjusted to bear on the armature-lever only when close to the polesof its electro-magnet, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a mechanically-actuated railway-signal, a stopping device thereforadapted to be engaged by the actuating power, and moved thereby intoposition to engage and stop the signal mechanism in position to indicatedanger before the said actuating-power is wholly exhausted,substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the actuatingspring, of a rock-shaft and armthereon to be engaged by the said spring to rotate the said shaft, and ahooked stop-arm to engage a pin and stop the signal mechanism when thesignal is in position to indicate danger, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR GASSETT. ISRAEL FISHER. Witnesses L. F. CONNOR, J os. P.LIVERMORE.

